Tracey Thompson | Design PortfolioTracey Thompson - Print | Branding | Design Research - San Francisco2009-10-28T02:44:53Zhttp://www.traceythompson.com/feed/atom/WordPressTracey Thompsonhttp://www.traceythompson.comhttp://www.traceythompson.com/?p=5842009-10-28T02:44:53Z2009-09-28T02:35:39ZHow can a company tailor its blog to address several audiences while encouraging dialogue on its product?

As social networking sites and services become more commonplace, the higher education community often struggles with adapting to the digital environment in which student interact. Inigral, creators of Schools on Facebook, seeks to help universities embrace social networking by creating safe, custom environments on the Facebook platform in which students can connect with others in their academic community. This provides universities with an opportunity to enrich their student community through social networking.

The Inigral blog serves to inform a variety of audiences within the higher education community as to the potential of social networking and the various services Inigral can provide. To allow users to easily access articles related to their specific user group, we created a navigation based on the target audiences. Want to see how Schools on Facebook can help increase attendance to sporting events? Check out the Athletics section. It’s a simple, straightforward method of navigation.

For this project I worked closely with the director of communications to decide what content should be displayed and how. I created mock-ups to discuss content and methods of interaction with the team. I created visual assets based on Inigral’s branding style. I built the site using css, html and php around the wordpress content management system. At the end of the project, I created a brief guide explaining to blog contributors how to utilize the variety of features I built in to the custom theme.

]]>Tracey Thompsonhttp://www.traceythompson.comhttp://www.traceythompson.com/?p=5122009-10-28T02:09:52Z2009-05-21T04:03:49ZHow can we create a simple web template that can expand to meet a budding start up’s needs?

TwoCampfires is composed of a small group of friends working together to build free iPhone applications. They approached me to create a simple web site that they would be able to edit and fill with content as content became available.

I created several mock-ups based on rough ideas the team had. After establishing that the site would need roughly two simple page types, I went about mocking up a number of possible type and image treatments they might use to display different content. From there I coded the css and prepared a few generic html/php based pages to test while the team developed their content.

As the content became available, I flowed content into each of the pages, adjusting my css as needed. The team has been able to create additional pages and include additional content on their own based on the templates I provided.

For his Masters of Architecture Thesis at UC Berekeley, my friend Behn Farahpour wanted a booklet to accompany his final presentation. This booklet would give his presentation panel an overview of the architecture, culture, and imagery that inspired his project.

Behn supplied me with a rough outline of topics and a massive amount of photographs with the instructions “Have fun!” The color pallet reflects the colors used in his architectural presentation and the layering of images and textures was intended to complement the emphasis on pattern and shape emphasized in his work.

Each book was printed in-house and hand bound.

]]>Tracey Thompsonhttp://www.traceythompson.comhttp://www.traceythompson.com/?p=4922009-05-21T07:11:51Z2009-04-01T21:56:46ZHow can we honor the history of an organization while updating their visual brand?

When the members of HRS approached me to design a logo for their web site redesign project, they knew they wanted a simple logo that somehow incorporated a reference to their founding rabbit. Using photographs of Clover, I created a logo that featured his outline within a house shape. I incorporated the heart and clover elements from artwork HRS planned to use on their new web site.

In addition to the logo in color, grayscale and black and white, I also provided several text options, and a branding guideline document for how to use the logo in various print and web situations.

]]>Tracey Thompsonhttp://www.traceythompson.comhttp://www.traceythompson.com/?p=4872009-05-20T22:54:12Z2009-03-01T18:22:50ZCan last-minute restrictions to budget, media, and content still result in a compelling promotion?

The initial scope of this project called for a guidebook to both promote the USENIX 09 technical conference and give attendees information about the lectures, workshops, and other events the conference would encompass. Mid-project the scope was abruptly changed to accommodate changes to the conference budget.

From this point on, my role changed to adapt the visual style and content already in progress from a multi-page book to a 4-fold brochure. As the project progressed, a web banner and variable-sized print ads were added to the project scope as well.

In order to accommodate the shifting needs and evolving content while staying within the client deadlines, I developed all files based around a flexible and clear template. I was able to quickly adapt the visual language to the various medium products the client required and my template allowed the client to add and change content as it was finalized. The project was completed on time and on budget.

]]>Tracey Thompsonhttp://www.traceythompson.comhttp://www.traceythompson.com/?p=4422009-05-21T03:34:20Z2009-02-27T21:28:15ZWhat do learning to surf and learning how to code php have in common?

I have always wanted to learn how to surf. I’ve watched surf films, I love being in the ocean, and having lived in California since 2002 I thought I might as well take a class. In April of 2008 I took a few lessons and have been surfing ever since.

I wanted to share my experiences out in the ocean with my friends and family. I also wanted a chance to learn how to code in php and practice my css skills. Creating a surfing site was the natural product.

Using the wordpress blog engine, I build a theme and began posting my photos and surf sessions. From there I began experimenting with rss feeds and embedded web applications to automatically aggregate content. Rss feed information includes updating surf reports for the spots I frequent most, updating twitter feeds to display on the go information about where I’m surfing and what the conditions are like, and updated weather reports. Using google’s embedded calendar, I can post information about when and where I will be surfing next.

]]>Tracey Thompsonhttp://www.traceythompson.comhttp://www.traceythompson.com/portfolio/?p=3112009-05-20T01:40:20Z2009-01-11T01:45:22ZHow can we illustrate the challenges of sustainable fishing and opportunities for change?

As the world demand for food grows, it is vital that commercial fishing evolve to become sustainable. A number of organizations have taken great steps to improve the way people catch, process, and buy fish; however many challenges still remain.

Changing the Future of Wild Fish was prepared by the Discovery Group to explain the barriers preventing innovative ideas from being widely accepted, to help define the opportunities for change, and call attention to the organizations already committed to sustainable fishing.

I served as production designer for this project. I organized the design template for production, prepared and revised over 200 pages of content, and designed a concept illustration.

]]>Tracey Thompsonhttp://www.traceythompson.comhttp://www.traceythompson.com/portfolio/?p=2142009-05-20T01:41:38Z2008-01-05T01:15:06ZHow can we help students develop the skills the need to make good decisions about their lives and health?

Healthy decision-making skills are vital skills for teens to learn as they navigate their complicated world. To help teens learn to face the challenges of adulthood and learn healthy behaviors, our team developed Making Life Choices. This textbook includes topics ranging from basic personal care, to family life, dealing with conflict, and avoiding negative behaviors.

As part of the product development team for this project, I designed the interior of the student edition of this book, including the design of the template for production. I also designed and produced over 100 pages of glossary, appendix, and index copy.

]]>Tracey Thompsonhttp://www.traceythompson.comhttp://www.traceythompson.com/portfolio/?p=2202009-07-08T21:13:10Z2007-12-05T23:51:15ZHow can we deliver information and clues for an alternate reality game?

To promote Fox’s “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles”, online and social media advertising company Millions of Us developed a live-action alternate reality game consisting of video, puzzles, and user contributed content.

The game begins with Enitech Research Labs, a modest tech-based start up based on San Francisco. As an open-source technology company, Enitech releases some of its research findings hoping for feedback. Early video blog posts reveal that Enitech has developed a Tachyon camera that can photograph the future. As the weekly videos unfold, the camera begins to reveal grim predictions of what’s to come.

Game participants visited enitechlabs.com to receive video updates, find clues to the next piece of the puzzle, and discuss the progression of the game’s storyline. Over two million people followed the Terminator: Dark Discovery storyline. Wired, Ain’t it Cool News, BoingBoingTV, Gawker Media featured content from the ARG or provided discussion about the project. “The Sarah Connor Chronicles” scored the highest series premiere ratings of any new TV show in three years. Terminator: Dark Discovery was acknowledged as a Webby Honoree.

For this project, I designed and built the Enitech web site. Using css style sheets, html and some php, I created a simple web structure intended to communicate the idea of a small, modestly funded tech start up. A “slick” site may have tipped game players on to the viral marketing component of the game before they were engaged in the story.

Photography Note: I supplied the image of downtown San Francisco that the artists at Industrial Light and Magic converted to the future image of San Francisco in ruin.

]]>Tracey Thompsonhttp://www.traceythompson.comhttp://www.traceythompson.com/portfolio/?p=2042009-05-20T01:44:40Z2007-08-04T22:07:47ZHow can we combine the study of food, science, mathematics, and geography to help teens better understand their nutritional options?

The traditional perspective on teaching nutrition tends to focus solely on the food component of the healthy living equation. Food, Nutrition, & Wellness takes a unique approach by blending academic perspectives with an understanding of food preparation and nutritional value.

For example, many exercises challenge the student to explore nutrition from a scientific understanding. How do the chemical properties of foods combine in the cooking process? Why are some foods more nutrient rich than others? Additional exercises reinforce math skills, encourage understanding of other cultures and cuisines, and even encourage students to understand food marketing and a build healthy body image.

As the primary designer on this project, I designed the interior of the student edition including all unit/chapter openers and many features and academic challenges. I also prepared the InDesign template for the production of this design. To design the cover of this book, I worked with outside vendors to develop design concepts into a finished product.